FIGHT! Magazine - Archives » May 2008https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine
Just another WordPress siteThu, 07 Nov 2013 21:36:48 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1Judging in MMAhttps://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/judging-in-mma-271/
https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/judging-in-mma-271/#commentsWed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000Mitch Gogetzhttp://www.fightmagazine.comHave you ever watched a fi ght and wondered at the end how the winner got the decision? Many fans are unclear of the scoring criteria in mixed martial arts. Judging in the sport is still in its infancy, but the rules have been in place for a few years now. The criteria for judging [...]

]]>Have you ever watched a fi ght and wondered at the end how the winner got the decision? Many fans are unclear of the scoring criteria in mixed martial arts. Judging in the sport is still in its infancy, but the rules have been in place for a few years now. The criteria for judging is set by the athletic commission overseeing the event. In the United States, the state athletic commissions follow the same format for judging fi ghts.

Judging in MMA has been a learning process throughout the years. When the rules were originally instituted, judges were not thoroughly educated in MMA. Many of the judges had come over from boxing, and judged fi ghts based on striking and what fi ghter had top control when on the ground. Now that mixed martial arts has become popular, the education level of the judges has increased steadily.

Each sanctioned MMA fi ght has three judges that declare a winner in fi ghts that go to a decision. MMA is based on a ten point system, and is scored by each individual round. The round winner, according to each judge, will receive ten points and the loser will receive nine or fewer depending on the level of dominance by the round winner. The only way a round can be scored 10-10 is if neither fi ghter is the clear winner.

ways to win

There are several ways a fi ght can be judged. If all three judges score the fi ght for the same fi ghter, then it is ruled a unanimous decision. When two of the judges score the bout for one fi ghter, and the other judge scores it for the opposing fi ghter, it is considered a split decision. There is a third possibility for a decision. When one of the judges rules the fi ght a draw and the other two judges score it for one of the fi ghters, it is considered a majority decision.

Another type of decision are draws. There are three types of draws. There are unanimous draws, majority draws, and split draws. Unanimous draws are similar to unanimous decisions in that all three judges have to score the bout the same, except in this case, all the scorecards would be ruled a draw. A majority draw is where two judges score the bout a draw, and the other scores it for one of the fi ghters. A split draw would be where all three judges score the fi ght differently, but the score total results in a draw.

The main components for scoring under the unifi ed rules are effective striking, effective grappling, control of the fi ghting area, aggressiveness, and defense. According to the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, effective striking is defi ned by determining the total number of legal heavy strikes landed by a contestant. Effective grappling is judged by considering the number of successful executions of takedowns and reversals. However, takedowns aren’t the only deciding factor in effective grappling. Creating threatening submission attempts is another factor.

DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW

There are many aspects in judging held under heavy scrutiny. Some fans do not agree with the unifi ed rules. In fact, there are judges that don’t agree with the ten point must system. “No, I don’t agree,” said veteran MMA referee Cecil Peoples. “Not at all. That was fi ne for boxing. But this is mixed martial arts. There has to be a happy medium.”

While some fans are big believers in the PRIDE rules from Japan, Peoples doesn’t necessarily think they are the answer either. “ I don’t necessarily agree with the PRIDE rules. There has to be a happy medium between the unifi ed rules and PRIDE rules. When Ricco Rodriguez fought [Antonio Rodrigo] Nogueira, I certainly thought that Rodriguez won that fi ght, but by PRIDE rules he lost, because their main criteria is attempts to end the fi ght and extent of damage. By [the unifi ed rules], he won the fi ght, but by PRIDE rules, he lost the fi ght,” explained Peoples.

who really won?

Over the course of mixed martial arts’ short history, there have been some very controversial decisions. Fights like Bas Rutten vs. Kevin Randleman, Ricco Rodriguez vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and most recently, Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill. Many fans were up in arms about the decision to that was given to Bisping.

One of the two judges who scored the fi ght for Bisping was Cecil Peoples. Peoples gave his account of why he scored the fi ght the way he did. “I’ve never gone back and watched another fi ght that I’ve judged, except for this fi ght. The thing that people don’t see is that they have three judges in three different places. This isn’t called the Ultimate Takedown Fighting Championship. It’s the Ultimate Fighting Championship. So, Bisping gets taken down, but Hamill does nothing when he takes him down. He swung at him a couple times and lets him up and they move around. But you have to do something when you take them down. The camera was to Hamill’s back and you can see him striking Bisping, but what you didn’t see was Bisping striking him back and striking him harder. At that angle, you didn’t see that. Jeff [Mullen] and I did and that’s why we scored it that way.”

Another gray area of judging is how 10-8 rounds are scored as opposed to 10-9 rounds. We’ve seen some instances where a 10-8 round is warranted, such as when former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell fought Jeremy Horn. Liddell had Horn badly hurt in the second round, knocking him down. A round like that was considered 10-8. However, in the Tito Ortiz-Forrest Griffi n fi ght, Ortiz dominated Griffi n the fi rst round, but was scored 10-9. According to the unifi ed rules, a 10-8 round is scored when a contestant overwhelmingly dominates by striking or grappling. This level of judging is still under speculation due to the dynamic nature of the sport.

While the judging system isn’t perfect, it’s what in place for the foreseeable future. As the judges gain experience and education in mixed martial arts, the sport’s legitimacy will move forward to the next level and questionable judging will be sure to decrease.

]]>https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/judging-in-mma-271/feed/0Patrycja Mikulahttps://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/patrycja-mikula-258/
https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/patrycja-mikula-258/#commentsTue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000adminhttp://www.fightmagazine.comSo Patrycja, you were born in Poland, but when did you come to the US? I came to the US when I was 10 That’s been awhile now! We’re glad you still have the accent. I know! I used to hang with all Polish people when I came here. That’s how you rolled huh? I [...]

So Patrycja, you were born in Poland, but when did you come to the US?

I came to the US when I was 10

That’s been awhile now! We’re glad you still have the accent.

I know! I used to hang with all Polish people when I came here.

That’s how you rolled huh?

I rolled with the Polish crew yup! I’m glad I still have my accent though, it get’s me a lot of attention and it always helps me get away with more than I would without it.

I’m sure Andre loves that… What’s it like being the girlfriend of a world class fi ghter?

It’s good! He’s a great guy so I feel lucky.

Do you worry about him when he’s fi ghting?

Of course I worry when he fi ghts. I get nervous mostly, but I’m always confi dent that he’ll win because I see him train and he trains hard. But yes, I get very nervous for the fi ghts.

What do you think you’d be doing if you hadn’t ended up modeling?

You know, I’m a Gemini, so I change my mind everyday. One day I want to do real estate, the next day I want to be a police woman, I dunno.

Hmm… Police woman sounds good to us. Would you say that you’re good with the handcuffs?

Haha, well my current goal is to open a Spa. I’ve been working on that for the last few months. Hopefully one day my dream will come through.

Sounds like you’re pretty fi nicky. Would you consider yourself a perfectionist?

Yes, I’m a big time perfectionist about everything. When I’m going out I need to be dressed right and looking 100%. I dunno if that’s a good thing or not, but I know what I like and I’m very particular about the details.

So if we were to see you out, and Andre was say, in the bathroom or something and we felt like gambling with our lives, what drink could we buy you?

I love wine! And I love champagne. My favorite champagne is PJ Rose, I can drink it like water. I LOVE it, I just had some last night.

Being as picky as you are, what was it about Andre that won you over?

It was defi nitely the way he’s a Gentleman. He’s very caring and he’s oldschool European and that’s what I like. When we fi rst went on a date he didn’t speak much English, but he asked if he could come pick me up. I thought it was the cutest thing. Usually a guy will say “let’s meet here or there”. So him being a gentleman, that totally won my heart.

What about Andre’s Pitbull, get along with him OK too?

Of course! We actually have two dogs. Andre has Maximus the pitbull, and I have a teacup pomeranian. His name is Parmesan, like the cheese! Believe it or not, they’re best friends. Its the cutest thing, the little one and the big one. Its kind’ve like me and Andre, I’m 5’4” and he’s 6’4”.

Tell the truth, Andre snuggles with the pomeranian doesn’t he?

Oh yeah! He sleeps with him every night! They are best buds!

Haha.. that’s great. So you guys speak to each other in English?

You know we talk in all 3 languages. I’ve learned a little bit of Russian and I understand about 90% of it. So he speaks Russian to me, I answer in polish. We speak all 3. They are very similar.

We would certainly deal with the language differences for you too. Are all polish women as beautiful as yourself?

Of course!

Fantastic, we’ll be hopping the fi rst fl ight to Krakow. How about some help, can you give us some pickup lines?

No, I haven’t. Other than the UFC, I’ve only been to the HDnet fi ghts and the Elite XC fi ghts at the Playboy mansion.

Speaking of Playboy, how did you get involved with them?

I did a photoshoot about 2 years ago, and the photographer asked me if I’d consider shooting for Playboy. It was always in the back of my head growing up, so he sent in my pictures and they were interested right away!

What issue was it that you were in?

Um, I’m a cyber girl of the month for Aug 2007, and I was also in 3 other issues, Feb 07, Oct 07 and march 08.

We’ll be sure to check those out. Anything else big coming up?

FIGHT! Magazine of course! Yaaay! I’m excited about that!

Of course! Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans?

Thank you for all your support and I want to thank everybody for the sweet messages on myspace!

]]>https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/patrycja-mikula-258/feed/0Forrest Through The Treeshttps://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/forrest-through-the-trees-264/
https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/forrest-through-the-trees-264/#commentsTue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000Adam Slutskyhttp://www.fightmagazine.comI seldom panic. But with 10:00 a.m. rapidly approaching, and me far from where I’m supposed to be, beads of sweat begin forming on my brow. I slam my foot down on the gas, cursing myself for taking the Tahoe in lieu of something faster. You see, I’m a punctual guy. And when I make [...]

]]>I seldom panic. But with 10:00 a.m. rapidly approaching, and me far from where I’m supposed to be, beads of sweat begin forming on my brow. I slam my foot down on the gas, cursing myself for taking the Tahoe in lieu of something faster. You see, I’m a punctual guy. And when I make a commitment, I honor it. So when Fight! magazine’s illustrious managing editor, Matt Brown, informed me that I’d be penning this issue’s cover story on Forrest Griffi n, I set every timepiece I owned two hours ahead. No friggin’ way was I gonna show up late for the interview. I saw what Forrest did to Raw Vegas VP Eric Newby for the latter’s tardy arrival to a pre-arranged Q & A. For all you cave dwellers who didn’t see the incident on YouTube, or read about it on the MMA forums, the punishment Forrest doled out—a run-of-the-mill leg kick to the thigh—gave Newby a hairline fracture of his femur. Not wanting to discover fi rst-hand what Forrest would do for an encore if I were late—disemboweling and decapitation came to mind—I planned on being very freakin’ early for our meeting. But because I accidentally plugged a buckwheat address into my SUV’s nav system, that defi nitely wasn’t gonna happen. Now, I just want to get there on time.

I call Forrest, tell him where I am, and cringe when I hear him laugh. “Ah man, you’re not even close,” he says, or words to that effect. Shit!

He repeats his address and I re-map. The instant I hang up, I throw the big Chevy into a rubber-screaming 180. The illicit maneuver yields a dozen horn honks—along with some expletive-laced instructions about what I should do to my mother—but that pales in comparison to what Forrest would do to me. My late arrival would catalyze a domino effect causing him to be late to his shoulder rehab session, and that spelled doom for yours truly. I begin to wonder how I might conduct an interview with a broken jaw. Writing out the questions is always an option, assuming he doesn’t hack off my hand for shits and giggles. Fortunately, the God of Traffi c is still asleep, and I make it to Forrest’s gated community with only seconds to spare.

Long before Forrest was doling out beatings, he was walking a beat, working as a police offi cer while pursuing a criminal justice degree at the University of Georgia. The career choice would seem an ideal fi t for a man with an unfl inching moral compass, tireless work ethic, and a great sense of humor—Southern Gentlemanly traits that have served Forrest well. It was at the police academy, during a lesson on defensive tactics via the Gracie Grapple System, that an instructor showed Forrest a UFC video. The course of Forrest’s life was altered forever.

Shortly thereafter, Forrest began training at The Hardcore Gym in Athens, Georgia— one of the preeminent mixed martial arts schools in the Southeast—under the tutelage of owners Adam and Rory Singer. Interestingly enough, Griffi n didn’t fancy himself much of an athlete, an odd contradiction given the fact that he could have walked onto the U. of Georgia’s perennial powerhouse Division I football team.

Says Rory Singer: “Forrest is a great athlete. Physically, he has all the tools. He’s got great octagon awareness and he’s smart, too—smarter than he’d have you believe. And when he fi ghts, he does so with a total lack of self-preservation. Few fi ghters have that capacity. He literally fi ghts every fi ght as if it’s his last.”

Amassing a 6-0 amateur record in rapid fashion, Forrest made the quantum leap to the professional ranks. His pro debut—for which he earned a whopping $250—took place on October 27, 2001, in Georgia’s Bell Auditorium, the fi nal bout on Reality Superfi ghting’s “New Blood Confl ict” card. His opponent: MMA legend and future UFC Hall of Famer Dan “The Beast” Severn. Talk about jumping straight into the fi re. Although Forrest lost the fi ght via unanimous decision, he took the defeat in stride.

“I didn’t do enough to win. Didn’t take any chances, just tried to tease him [Forrest called him Tom Selleck during the fi ght] into slugging it out, fi ghting my fi ght. The strategy didn’t work and I lost.”

Severn, who can’t recall the exact details of their bout (with well over 100 pro fi ghts, who could blame him?), says: “I’m glad I had the opportunity to fi ght Forrest in his pro debut and not the Forrest Griffi n of today, or the outcome might have been different.”

Forrest didn’t waste any time climbing back into the cage. He took his second pro fi ght less than a month later on the Dark Continent. “Pride and Honor” was the organization, South African Wiehan Lesh the opponent. But only moments into the bout, Forrest dislocated his shoulder. What should have been another loss, however, became a demonstration of the Robocop approach: “To stop me, you’ll have to kill me.” Forrest’s aforementioned “complete lack of self-preservation” was being put on display for all to see. He continued to fi ght with only one good arm, and eventually managed to end the contest by a rear naked choke later in the round.

Building on that win, Forrest went on a tear, ripping off an impressive string of seven victories, including a hard-fought, four-round decision over monstrously powerful wrestler/grappler Jeff “The Snowman” Monson at the World Extreme Fighting Championships, and a fi rst-round triangle choke submission victory against Team Quest standout Chael Sonnen at the IFC’s pyramid-like “Global Domination.” The fi ght with Sonnen led to a contest against seasoned MMA veteran Jeremy Horn later that evening. The fi rst round of the semi-fi nal bout with the wily Horn was an up-tempo seesaw battle—a classic meld of brawler bravado and submission smarts. The second round was a virtual carbon copy of the fi rst until, with a little over a minute to go, Forrest got caught with a perfectly placed head kick that knocked him out.

While the fi ght was insanely entertaining, Forrest’s post-fi ght comments are in retrospect even more so, given his current status as the UFC’s top-ranked light-heavyweight contender. “I’d rather get knocked out in grand fashion than lose a decision where I fought smart,” Forrest said. “I’m never gonna be one of the top level guys, so I don’t worry about wins and losses.” Hmmm.

Three months later, Forrest was in Natal, Brazil, battling Edson Paredao at the Heat Fighting Championships. Taking on a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert in Brazil was a tall order; apparently, the MMA Gods thought Forrest needed even greater odds stacked against him. Shortly into the fi ght, Paredao broke Forrest’s left arm. Once again, a loss should have been the outcome. But like before, Forrest refused to shut it down. He ended up knocking Paredao out with his good right hand.

Despite a respectable 9-2 record and growing legion of fans, Forrest pretty much had it with professional mixed martial arts. Physically and mentally spent, his arm on the mend, he was content to get on with his life. A career in law enforcement, his girlfriend—these were his priorities. The octagon was merely a distant shape in his memory. But then a unique opportunity presented itself.

Originally pitched to him as “The Real World for fi ghters,” Forrest wasn’t sure if he was interested. “I had other things going on, I was thinking about moving to Virginia with this girl… Life was crazy at the time,” Forrest says. “So I called a friend, had him talk me into going.”

Fortunately, Forrest is a good listener. He threw caution to the wind and fl ew to Las Vegas for the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter. There he would share a house with future UFC standouts, such as: Nate “The Rock” Quarry, Mike “Quick” Swick, Chris “The Crippler” Leben, Kenny “KenFlo” Florian, Josh “Kos” Koshcheck, Sam “The Alaskan Assassin” Hoger, Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez, Alex “The Assassin” Karalexis, and Stephan “The American Psycho” Bonnar. A member of Team Liddell, Forrest trained under the Iceman’s watchful eyes, garnering tips from one of the blood sport’s most proven talents.

Forrest’s stock rose with the airing of each episode—within the MMA community and outside of it—courtesy of the show’s widespread reality TV audience. And while his fi ghting chops were obvious, it was Forrest’s off-the-mat antics that really created a buzz: that goofy Howdy-Doody smile, congenial charm, and devil-may-care demeanor. If there was anyone in the fi ght game that could enter and leave the cage with a smile on his face, regardless of the outcome, it was Forrest Griffi n. At any rate, it was Forrest’s opponents who usually left the arena unhappy.

And Forrest certainly made the most of his opportunity. In his fi rst TUF fi ght (Episode #9), Forrest made Schoenauer tap out from strikes in round one. In Forrest’s second fi ght (Episode #12), Hoger was the victim, losing by TKO in round two. Stephan Bonnar had also won his two preliminary light-heavyweight bouts (beating Southworth and Swick), setting the stage for what would ultimately be called one of the greatest fi ghts in UFC history.

On April 9, 2005, the two squared off in the Cox Pavilion. At stake was far more than bragging rights—a $10,000 watch, a new Scion Xb, and the mother of all rewards: a six-fi gure UFC fi ght contract. Griffi n and Bonnar did not disappoint; they waged an all-out war for the entire 15-minute fi ght. After three bone-jarring, fl esh-shredding rounds, everyone in attendance was on his feet. And it’s a safe bet that the entire home audience was, too. By the end, both men were exhausted, covered in blood, and anxious to hear the decision.

“Renzo Gracie’s mentality is that no man is gonna break him in fi fteen or twenty minutes,” Forrest says. “That works for me.” He then compares his own fi ghting mindset to that of pirates during the Golden Age of piracy. “I read somewhere that, before pirates went into battle, they would destroy all the lifeboats. They were making it clear that they were either going to win or they were going to die.”

By now, we all know the result. Because Bonnar had left it all on the mat, and given the fans something to talk about for years to come, UFC President Dana White awarded him the second six-fi gure contract. But the night really belonged to Forrest Griffi n.

Please forgive the Gump-ism, but the movie’s most famous line fi ts Forrest better than an Affl iction Tshirt, and I simply couldn’t resist. Driving through the security gate, I am shocked by what I fi nd. When it comes to successful fi ghters’ homes, expansive mansions and wild dens of debauchery— straight out of MTV Cribs—are the norm. However, Griffi n’s house is a modest twostory that reeks of comfort and sensibility. The interior mirrors the exterior: no gaudy artwork or alpha-male stripper pole, just a tasteful mix of cozy furnishings and elegant accents, highlighted by a Christmas tree with cutesy ornaments.

As for the master of the house, I already have a notion of what to expect. Most, if not all, of the professional fi ghters I’ve interviewed over the years have had an air of superiority about them, a ‘tough guy setting’ forever dialed up to the max. They made it crystal clear that they kicked the shit out of people for a living, and that spending any time in their presence was a luxury. But Forrest Griffi n is decidedly different. In fact, if not for his caulifl ower ears, a smattering of scars, and the fact that I’ve seen him absolutely dismantle people inside the Octagon, he’d easily pass for a greeter at some posh restaurant or luxury hotel.

When I fi rst meet Forrest, he’s scarfi ng down scrambled eggs to accompany the 50 or so pounds of vitamin pills he’s just swallowed. Okay, I’m exaggerating, but if you saw the supplements Forrest hordes like precious gemstones in the cavernous walk-in closet of his bedroom, you’d understand. An insane amount of nutritional sustenance is required to maintain the physique necessary to compete at that ultra-high level, and to deal with the endless beatings the body suffers during training and fi ghts. Over the years, Forrest has come to know his strapping 6’3” frame the way a world-class jockey knows his racehorse, and his gastronomic intake refl ects that knowledge. Like most fi ghters, Forrest’s culinary decisions are usually based on necessity, not enjoyment. And Forrest LOVES to eat.

“She’s amazing,” Forrest opines, referring to Jamie’s non-frivolous prowess in decorating his recently purchased house. “Every time I get home she’s put another room together.”

That leads to a conversation about the one thing in this world that scares Forrest the most—having a child. “I’m absolutely terrifi ed of having a kid. And that’s because when kids come near me, they cry. They’re terrifi ed of me. But I know how much I love my girlfriend, and if I love my kid that much, I’ll be fi ne.”

I have a feeling there’s a bit of tonguein- cheek humor here. Forrest used to teach at a school for children suffering from severe behavioral and emotional disorders. According to unnamed sources, Forrest was exceptional at his job, easily one of the children’s favorite teachers.

After breakfast, we head into the garage, where I expect to fi nd an armored Hummer, a suspension-lifted pick-up truck, or perhaps an exotic sports car. I fi gured Forrest would splurge on a snazzy whip. The oversized toaster-on-wheels Scion Xb he received for winning TUF would not have been among my top 1,000 guesses.

I see a pattern forming, a pattern that perfectly corroborates statements by those who know Forrest well. For instance, Dana White: “Forrest still wears that same fuckin’ pleather-leather jacket he wore on TUF.” Or friend and former trainer Rory Singer: “Forrest still has some of the same clothes he wore in high school.” Keep in mind they’re not suggesting that Forrest is cheap. They’re saying he’s frugal. They’re saying he’s responsible. They’re saying he gets it.

“Money and fame haven’t changed Forrest one bit,” close friend Lucas Rakofsky states adamantly. “He’s the same guy, only now everyone knows who he is.”

Forrest takes it one step further. “Money allows me to be who I want to be,” he explains. “Now that my needs are met, I want to give to my family and friends, to the people who need it.”

Spend any time with Forrest, and it’s obvious he’s jazzed by his accomplishments, which the often self-deprecating fi ghter doesn’t fully believe he merits. On the fl ip side, the taste of victory has also opened up a major can of worms.

“Originally, I just wanted to get one win in the UFC,” Forrest explains. “But after I’d done that, it wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I wanted the belt.”

Less than two months after winning the TUF fi nale, Forrest made his “offi cial” UFC debut at UFC 53 Heavy Hitters against hardhitting Bill “The Butcher” Mahood, who was 11-2-1 at the time. Forrest overwhelmed Mahood, submitting him with a rear naked choke at 2:18 of the fi rst round. The next rung on Forrest’s ascent up the light-heavyweight ladder came at UFC 55 Fury, against Muay Thai/Machado/Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Elvis “The King of Rock’n’Rumble” Sinosic. Forrest dispatched Sinosic midway through round one with a fi sticuff-inspired TKO. Destiny was calling. So Forrest said goodbye Athens, Georgia, hello Las Vegas.

For Forrest, living in Sin City is almost anti-climactic. Celebrity-studded parties at strip clubs and VIP lounges have little appeal to him. He’s a nester of sorts, a closet intellectual who prefers staying home and reading a good book or watching TV shows like Dexter and Pushing Daisies, not tossing back shots and engaging in mindless banter into the wee hours.

“Vegas is good for me,” Forrest says. “For training, there are lots of fi ghters here. And off the mat, fi ghters hang with fi ghters. Vegas is home.”

These days, Forrest has put himself in a position to train just about anywhere he wants to, and with anyone he desires: Randy Couture at Xtreme Couture, Mike Whitehead at the Xyience Training Center… the list is long and distinguished. Whatever facet of the MMA game Forrest wants to explore—and at that level, it’s ALL of them—he has people to assist him.

But Forrest is a far cry from the tunnelvision tough-guy many other play-for-pay pugilists openly claim to be. Scan the pages of your favorite MMA publication (Fight! had better be it) or watch interviews with any of today’s best fi ghters, and you’ll discover that a vast majority make no bones about “eating, sleeping, and breathing” fi ghting. It’s their life, their one true love. Forrest has found a balance. And in his case, the “It’s not what I am, it’s just what I do” ideology really is gospel.

That’s not just some clever act by a man looking for the sentimental vote. Same goes for the “aw, shucks” grin he permanently sports. What you see is what you get. There is no hidden agenda. And that outlook applies equally to his demeanor inside the cage.

“Some guys need to get into a rage to psyche themselves up before a fi ght,” Forrest quips. “But for me, I simply care more about my needs than my opponent’s.”

Forrest is driving to his rehab session, post-op treatment for the surgery performed on his right shoulder to repair the torn rotator cuff, torn labrum, and torn biceps tendon, which have plagued him for quite some time, since long before the Shogun fi ght, where he was incorrectly rumored to have sustained the injuries. He slices across three lanes of traffi c without slowing to make an exit, unintentionally cutting off another vehicle. A bit embarrassed by the discourteous maneuver, he laughs it off and makes a quick analogy.

“Fighting is a lot like cutting someone off. It’s nothing personal—I’m just trying to get somewhere.”

Riding shotgun, I really wish Forrest had won a Ferrari—or maybe an Abrams tank—instead of that Scion. For that’s exactly how he drives it. Motorists in Vegas, however, should feel safe whenever Forrest is on the road. It’s the pedestrians on the sidewalks who should worry! Actually, inside the Scion is where it’s really dangerous. A variety of objects constantly fl y around when Forrest is at the wheel, among them: a Glock pistol; several knives (fi xed and lock blades); a full CD case; sponsor checks; energy drink cans; and his new, extremely lucrative UFC contract.

After Forrest’s grueling rehab session, which was exhausting just to watch, we embark on a quest to fi nd the perfect gift for his fi ancée—a Kitchen Aid mixer in stainless steel. As it turns out, it would have been easier to locate WMDs in Iraq. We eventually fi nd the unit at a Wal-Mart, though not in the proper color. Forrest buys it, anyway. But the clerk has forgotten to erase the anti-theft sensor on the box, and the shoplifting alarm sounds as we leave the store. Although everything is in order, Forrest, always the joker, decides to make a run for it.

From my conversation with the UFC’s Supreme Being, three things are readily apparent: 1) White thinks the world of Forrest Griffi n, both as a person and as a fi ghter. 2) White is fully cognizant of Forrest’s acrossthe- board appeal—from MMA junkies to soccer moms, and everyone in between. 3) White is, without question, the right guy to helm the UFC, as he’s got more fi re and passion about mixed martial arts—and the UFC’s role in the sport—than all the professional fi ghters combined.

Actor, comedian and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan—an MMA practitioner (Tae Kwon Do black belt and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt) and one of the sport’s most ardent fans—also weighed in: “What I really like about Forrest is that he’s smart, humble, and he doesn’t do things to get himself on TV.”

A UFC post-fi ght interviewer since 1997 and a cage-side fi xture since 2002, Joe has witnessed all of Forrest’s UFC bouts. “Forrest is tall, muscular and big for his [weight] class,” Joe observed. “He moves well, has great angles, and he fi ghts like a wild dog. Forrest is always impressive.”

The “Forrest factor” was vividly evident at UFC 59 Reality Check, where Forrest took on the heavily favored former lightheavyweight champion Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz. This was easily the biggest, most important fi ght of his career, and Forrest did just about everything he needed to do to win, but he lost via split decision. To this day, many believe Forrest deserved the victory. But other than the tally in the win/loss column, the decision was irrelevant; of primary importance was the fact that Forrest proved to everyone that he belonged among the UFC’s elite fi ghters.

A unanimous decision win in a wild rematch against Stephan Bonnar at UFC 62 got Forrest back into his winning ways. Then came UFC 66, and Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine. There’s no way to sugarcoat what happened inside the cage—Jardine stomped a mud-hole in Forrest, having KO’d him at 4:41 of the very fi rst round. In the MMA, wins and losses are all a part of the game. But it’s what happened outside the cage that had people talking—Forrest broke down crying, devastated by the outcome.

According to the forums and blogs— and even a few articles—many thought Forrest was being “overly dramatic,” and that he should simply “take his beating like a man.” But it’s not that simple. Forrest thought he had let his fans down. What’s more, he felt he had let himself down.

“Fighters are emotional,” says Rory Singer, a professional fi ghter and TUF alum (Episode #3), in addition to being a trainer. “Sometimes we cry, after losses and wins. In Forrest’s case, he knew what he lost in that fi ght and he wasn’t afraid to let it all out. And I had a new respect for him for it.”

Had it been up to Forrest, he would have been back in the cage four months later, at UFC 70, against Lyoto Machida. But a nasty staph infection kept him sidelined, much to his dismay.

“I wanted to fi ght,” Forrest says. “I actually felt I needed to fi ght, for me and for my fans.” He would get his next opportunity in Belfast, Ireland, at UFC 72, appropriately titled “Victory.” Forrest—whose image graces Mickey’s malt liquor cans—came out to the strains of “I’m Shipping Up To Boston,” by the Dropkick Murphys, and the arena went wild. Fueled by the crowd’s incredible energy, and his own non-stop drive, Forrest proved to be a man on a mission, winning the bout by unanimous decision.

Enter Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert, former PRIDE Fighting Champion and, at the time, ranked the number two pound-for-pound fi ghter in the world. Facing Rua would be a huge task for Forrest, one that many believed was insurmountable. All the bookmakers had Rua as a huge favorite.

Some years prior, Forrest had been asked about fi ghting Shogun. His response: “Yeah, that would be a good fi ght, but it might be a little out of my league right now.”

Ah, but that’s the beauty of mixed martial arts. Anything can happen at any time. And happen it did. Only, Forrest didn’t just win: He dominated. He took the best of everything Shogun had to offer, whether standing up or on the ground. The fact that Forrest won via submission, by rear naked choke no less (and won “Submission of the Night,” along with an extra $40K), against one of the most dangerous submission tacticians in the game, sent an ICBM-like message out to the rest of the light-heavyweight division: Forrest Griffi n is for real.

Now Forrest is coaching for this season’s installment of TUF, featuring light-heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, whom Forrest will face for the belt at the show’s completion. Forrest’s teammates would be smart to soak up any and all wisdom he might impart, on the mat or off. After all, he’s been there. Knowing Forrest, he’ll require each member of his team to play a practical joke on a housemate, if only to ease the stress and tension that’s sure to develop—problems that Forrest learned to overcome. Just look where he is now!

But perhaps it’d be best if Forrest heeded a bit of advice from someone who knows him well. Says Rory Singer: “I believe the only thing Forrest needs to take his game to the next level is the self-confi dence that he is as good, if not better, than the other fi ghters in his division. Hopefully, he learned that during the Shogun fi ght. And if he does that, look out.”

At the end of our time together, I gather up my gear, thank Forrest for his hospitality, and ask him if there’s anything else he wants me to know—some interesting factoid that he feels would intrigue readers. Forrest fl ashes that famous Cheshire Cat grin. “I’ve only got one testicle,” he says, deadpan. Sorry I asked.

According to fellow countryman and former Pride star Denis Kang, “He’s the best prospect out of Korea right now. He’s gonna turn some heads for sure.”

A veteran of the Korea-based SpiritMC and Japan-based DEEP, Dong-Hyun Kim is one of the most promising up-and-comers today.

“When I was young, I practiced Judo. After watching MMA, I made up my mind to do that and entered Yongin University majoring in Judo. I wanted to get into the sport right away,” refl ected Kim. “However, I had to join the mandatory military service as a Korean. After two years, I fulfi lled my service in the Marine Corps and I made my MMA debut in September of 2003.”

As an amateur fi ghter, Kim earned high accolades and was successful in various martial arts competitions, including winning a submission grappling tournament. In addition, Kim won the championship belts in the only three amateur MMA leagues in Korea. These accomplishments are the cornerstone of the fi ghter he is today.

“I enjoy fi ghting because of the audience,” said Kim. “Without the fans, a fi ghter couldn’t exist; I guess this wonderful competition is much more important than if I got a win or loss. Therefore, I will always practice and do my best.”

Dong-Hyun Kim’s fi ghting style is best described as well-rounded. As quoted by MMAWeekly.com’s Korean correspondent John Evans, “His ground game looks more like a product of Sao Paulo than Seoul and his standup is equally as dangerous.” Fans who have seen Kim in action have commonly compared him to current UFC middleweight star Yushin Okami.

A recent highlight of Kim’s was an impressive TKO victory over DEEP champion Hidehiko Hasegawa. Unfortunately for the Busan Team M.A.D. fi ghter, the match was a non-title contest. The two fi ghters met again two months later in a rematch that produced a controversial draw. Although Kim wasn’t able to display a championship belt for his efforts, his performances did catch the eye of a certain organization in the U.S.

“I want to be a champion in the UFC. The strongest fi ghters are in the UFC,” stated Kim after recently signing a multi-fi ght contract with the largest MMA organization in North America.

“I look up to Georges St. Pierre. My team, Busan Team M.A.D, trains in all aspects… striking, Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. St. Pierre is a well-rounded fi ghter and he’s the king of the weight class I’m debuting in. I welcome the opportunity to face him and defeat him. Obviously I won’t have that kind of opportunity right away, but I will work hard in order to get that title shot.”

Dong-Hyun Kim will take his career to the next level when he steps into the Octagon for the fi rst time in May.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and I will not disappoint them. This is just beginning. I will show my skills in the Octagon. I will do my best always.”

Chute Boxe experienced many unexpected changes last year, particularly with the departure of the team’s most recognizable name and spiritual leader Wanderlei Silva. Coupled with the subsequent exit of brothers Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Murilo “Ninja” Rua, as well as Andre “Dida” Amade, Chute Boxe’s future seemed bleak. The Brazilian powerhouse team had begun to enter a transition phase.

With the main stars gone, Chute Boxe’s future rested in their young prospects. One of the most notable names out of the pack is Michael Costa.

“I started training Jiu-Jitsu in Rio de Janeiro with Royler Gracie’s team under the supervision of Andre Negao and have participated in many Jiu-Jitsu competitions. At that time I started to watch MMA and read about the sport in magazines,” said Costa.

“I saw how Chute Boxe turned Wanderlei [Silva], “Pele” [Jose Landi-Jons], and “Ninja” [Murilo Rua] into the fi ghters they are today. What caught my attention was the way Master Rudimar Fedrigo and Master Rafael Cordeiro worked with the fi ghters inside the ring and in their corner. I came to Curitiba and chose to train at Chute Boxe because I felt they could best prepare me, physically and mentally.”

At just 25-years old, Michael Costa has the potential to be the next big thing out of Chute Boxe. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt under Cristiano Marcello brings an exciting aggressive pace to all of his fi ghts. Some of his previous matches were reminiscent to those of former teammates Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Rua.

“I wish to grow as a fi ghter and an athlete. I want to fi ght for many years and when the opportunities to fi ght overseas come, I will do my best to represent my gym, my friends, my country and fans. My faith gives me the strength to win. My faith turned me into an MMA fi ghter.”

Michael Costa is one of the hardest workers in the gym. The Chute Boxe fi ghter follows a strict training regimen and has even been labeled as the ‘Brazilian version of Sean Sherk’; he lives a very healthy lifestyle and does not consume alcohol. Costa credits Chute Boxe trainers for his transformation into a MMA fi ghter.

“First and foremost, my main admiration is God. I follow Master Rafael Cordeiro closely because of the way he teaches and administers the team. We have more then fi fty professional athletes here and he is 100% capable of teaching each and every one of us,” commented Costa. “We have people train from all over the country and he treats everyone the same way; that is a true example of how a person should be.”

“I am a Brazilian fi ghter. I am not the type of athlete who chooses his opponent; I want to fi ght anyone in my weight class,” described Costa. “At Chute Boxe we are used to training extremely hard with each other every single day at practice.”

With his sights set on fi ghting in the U.S., Michael Costa continues to train hard and wait for the opportunity to take his career to the next level.

“My main goal is to win a championship in a big event. I want to show my family and friends that I’m capable of accomplishing all my goals. I want to be successful in America and I want to fi ght with the best guys in my weight class. These are guys who are in the UFC so the Octagon is my destiny. I want to say thanks to all my fans, they are my real power. Every time I step inside the ring or Octagon I am not alone; they are all with me.”

From humble beginnings to Jiu-Jitsu phenom, Rousimar Palhares has positioned himself as one of the best prospects out of Brazilian Top Team today.

“I was born into a simple and humble family from the countryside of Brazil. I’ve been working since I was seven years old to help with my family,” revealed Rousimar. “Our family was really poor; sometimes we didn’t have enough food for the whole family.

“I got into fi ghting after meeting the right people who helped and gave me the motivation to practice Jiu-Jitsu. I am a calm, disciplined athlete. I believe that if you work hard, you can have anything you want.”

Palhares has been given the nickname of “Toquinho”, which roughly translates to ‘shorty’. Moniker aside, this Brazilian standout is not short on talent. The 185-pound fi ghter claimed the Fury Fighting Championship middleweight title after defeating Flavio Mura, Pan-Am Jiu-Jitsu champion Fabio Negao and Chute Boxe’s Daniel Acacio in impressive tournament action.

“I am very grateful and lucky to have the opportunity to train with Brazilian Top Team. I have made a lot of friends here; they have helped me with everything that I need. I have the opportunity to train with great fi ghters and I learn something new every day.”

Rousimar Palhares earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under former UFC champion Murilo Bustamante and Bebeo Duarte. Experts in martial arts touted “Toquinho” as one of the most naturally gifted grapplers today. Rousimar’s Jiu-Jitsu has transitioned well into MMA and his past opponents succumbed to his aggressive style and ground prowess. His proclivity for heel hooks and ankle locks is undeniable.

Having spent his entire career competing in Brazil, Rousimar will venture out of his native country to make his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in May. After considering offers from organizations in Japan and the U.S., Rousimar and his management team chose to sign with the largest MMA promotion in North America.

“It is my dream to be in the UFC. I have the chance to test my techniques and skills. I can fi ght with the best fi ghters. I want to be a UFC champion. I look up to all of the best fi ghters in the world; it doesn’t matter where they come from. My dream is to be on top beside them.

“I want to say thanks to all of my fans who believe in me and support me. I will work hard to put on a great show for everyone. I want to thank the UFC for giving me this opportunity.”

]]>https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/new-blood-32-260/feed/0If You Ain’t Cheating You Ain’t Tryin’!https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/if-you-aint-cheating-you-aint-tryin-268/
https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/if-you-aint-cheating-you-aint-tryin-268/#commentsMon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000Jason "Mayhem" Millerhttp://www.fightmagazine.comKicked in the balls. Blinding pain emanated from my crotch, sending my heartbeat throbbing up into my ears. The crowd’s jeers at my opponent’s blatant foul echoed all around me, and the cute chick in the front row giggled to her boyfriend that it sure looked like it hurt. Although in pain, I was more [...]

]]>Kicked in the balls. Blinding pain emanated from my crotch, sending my heartbeat throbbing up into my ears. The crowd’s jeers at my opponent’s blatant foul echoed all around me, and the cute chick in the front row giggled to her boyfriend that it sure looked like it hurt. Although in pain, I was more angry than anything else. The thought of quitting never entered my mind. But just as I was thinking, “What an asshole…” my thoughts were interrupted by something my coach had said to me at an after practice lunch. “In a fi ght, if the guy gets you in the balls, go out there and get him right back!”

My coach was no slime ball – never ripped me off, or killed anyone that I knew of, but for some reason I knew he had it right. It was probably all the throbbing. After careful thought, I signaled the ref that I was ready, touched gloves with the ball-punter, and proceeded to knee him in the balls straightaway. As he crumbled into a heap on the mat, I shrugged my shoulders and let out a loud and hearty laugh that even the cutie in the front row could hear over the chorus of laughter in the small crowded gym. Was it the right thing to do? Probably not. Was it funny? Absolutely. Still, two wrongs don’t make a right, and my mom would have been very disappointed in me. Now that we were on a level playing fi eld, the better man (me) won the fi ght and the tournament, collecting fi ve-hundred bucks, which went to the purchase of food for my malnourished ass.

Fast-forward through my career. The money gets bigger, but the desire to win wanes very little. Sure, now if I lose I can wipe the tears from my eyes with hundred dollar bills, but I’m still crying. No fi ghter worth his salt likes to lose. There gets to be a gray area where a fi ghter wants to do anything short of hiding a screwdriver in his jockstrap to get the victory.

The innate competitiveness that most athletes have is only the tip of the iceberg. If after losing a fi ght I said, “Hey that guy had a roll of quarters in his glove,” even if it was true, it doesn’t matter. Unless the ref pulls the stack of George Washington’s from his hand and it’s broadcast in high defi nition on every big screen in the arena, I just sound like a whiny bitch. He gets away with the whole thing, and I look like a big sissy; not only did I lose, but I cried foul after the fact.

This time, in an anonymous MEGA arena, in a mega city, in front of a mega crowd, in a mega show, for what was then mega money to me. The stakes are much higher, and I had done my best to prepare for this single fi ght, even going so far as to not have a wild sex party the night before the fi ght, in order to improve my focus. After a rough fi rst round, I met in the center for round two and got taken down. No biggie, my guard is good – I thought that maybe I could pull off the submission and get a “Dumbass of the Night” award or something. While locked in my tight guard, I noticed that I was having trouble keeping my opponent’s head down. I practiced shirtless with my training partners, and never had this much trouble keeping a guy from punching me. Was this guy über strong or something? Not exactly.

After a few more stiff elbows to my grillpiece, I felt the familiar slick I would get every day at kickboxing practice on my nose and eyes. My opponent, now up two rounds, was coated in Vaseline! Greasy bastard, I thought. I yelled to the ref, “Hey! He is greased up!” But much like anyone else watching me get pounded, he didn’t give a damn. This was followed by me taking another smash to the face. Yeah, ok for him, but I’m taking a beating over here and can’t hold onto the bastard.

Did I bitch about it afterwards? Nope. Why? What’s the point? Would it put the toothpaste back in the tube? As far as everyone saw, I lost the fi ght fair and square. Would it have made a difference if he weren’t greased up? Maybe, but probably not. He was the better man that night, plain and simple. He bent the rules, he didn’t break them, and when you get away with it, it isn’t called cheating.

Fighting is the root of all sports, and with any sport, all the spectator wants is his team or guy to win. No one likes a loser. Go to an MMA event, large or small, and watch two guys put on a technical match that doesn’t have a ton of excitement and watch how quickly the crowd turns into a Baptist choir of booing and chants of “You suck!” When your livelihood depends on whether your hand is raised at the end of the night, you’ll work the system to achieve that result.

Barry Bonds is catching the most fl ack on earth for allegedly taking steroids. Also on the fans’ most-hated list is home run king of the late 90s Mark McGwire, who admitted taking a hormone that at the time was perfectly legal. Also on the bad list is Flo Jo, who was jamming a syringe in her perfectly shaped booty, and breaking record after record while the international crowd cheered at the top of their lungs. But, “She’s been stripped of her gold medals! She is barred from Olympic competition for the rest of her life!”

Remember the bit I said about wiping your eyes with hundred dollar bills? Well, she is wiping her ass with million dollar checks. Her face on a Wheaties box took her from the hood to the hills, and no matter how sad she is about the fallout, she made her success happen at any cost.

This isn’t limited to the sports world. Everyone cheats. For every highly publicized Enron scandal, countless white-collar crimes slip right by the newspapers. When you own the freaking newspaper, you choose what is printed. The common man doesn’t care about these things. He is more concerned with batting averages, ERAs, and most of all home runs. The minute it comes out that there were questionable training practices, there is an uproar, and the athlete gets crucifi ed for the entire world to see. Meanwhile, the team owner has been evading taxes and robbing babies for their candy while quietly avoiding prosecution. The whole time, he’s poking the overgrown-muscle-boundclub- swinger with a cattle prod, cackling, “More homeruns! More wins! More championships! More money!” Win at any cost. As long as his team is winning, he doesn’t seem to care how it’s happening. Same as his political party, his favorite on American Idol, his daughter’s softball team. Just win.

I read that of a hundred Olympic athletes surveyed, ninety said that if there were a pill that would guarantee them a gold medal, but kill them in ten years, they’d take it. Goddamn! Anything to win! Anything. Keep those pills away from me, even if they don’t have a test for them. I hope I have a life after fi ghting. I only plan on kicking ass till forty or so, even though fi ghters seem to never retire, just take ever-longer breaks. When I pee in the cup, I’m worried that the cold medicine I took yesterday will show up, I’ll get on the bad guy list, and everyone will call me a cheater. Meanwhile, the dude that took the secret Balco blend will pee with the utmost confi dence because the commish doesn’t have the drop on the cheaters, while my boys get shot at in the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Sure, let’s talk America’s pastime and not America’s underprivileged youth sent to die in other countries. Glad to see we have our priorities straight. Speaking of priorities, I peed clean and won that fi ght, but lucky for me, they didn’t notice the screwdriver in my jockstrap. Hey, I didn’t get caught, so it wasn’t cheating. I won fair and square.

]]>https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/if-you-aint-cheating-you-aint-tryin-268/feed/0Natural Born Killershttps://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/natural-born-killers-261/
https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/natural-born-killers-261/#commentsMon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000Bear Frazerhttp://www.fightmagazine.comOn this cool evening at FIT NHB, a well-established training facility located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Condit just fi nished hitting the bags and is cooling down in the gym’s offi ce. The 23-year-old has been concentrating on his technique because he is slated to defend his title against Carlo Prater – the fi rst [...]

]]>On this cool evening at FIT NHB, a well-established training facility located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Condit just fi nished hitting the bags and is cooling down in the gym’s offi ce. The 23-year-old has been concentrating on his technique because he is slated to defend his title against Carlo Prater – the fi rst man to ever defeat him – in a grudge match at WEC 29.

Though he will be fi ghting only a few minutes down the road at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, the 170-pound wrecking ball is planning to put on a clinic. “More so than redeeming the loss, it’s a chance to show how far I’ve come from then to now,” he states. “I’m going to go in there and do my thing. My fi ghting, my skills, and my aggression speak for themselves. I don’t have to prove myself to anybody.”

The juggernaut might not have to prove himself to anyone, but it seems like he has to defend World Extreme Cagefi ghting from constant scrutiny. When Zuffa purchased the organization in 2006, it became regarded as a second tier fi ght promotion.

That doesn’t sit well in the eyes of Condit. “The PR guy in the WEC says perception is reality, and if these guys perceive the WEC to be the second tier organization, then that’s their reality. But that’s not necessarily the truth,” he states. “In the UFC, there is a lot of pressure to win and I think, sometimes, guys don’t perform as well as they could. They don’t really let it all hang out because a win could either shoot them up or drop them so far down the ladder. WEC is a little different. If you fi ght your ass off and have a good show, win or lose, you’re going to do well.”

Despite his age, that’s exactly what Condit has been doing for years – fi ghting his ass off.

Carlos Condit is a product of Albuquerque’s working class environment. His father was a union electrician, and eventually became a labor leader under future Governor Brian Richardson. His mother was a certifi ed nurse. Surrounded by positive infl uences, the young Carlos never really steered off track.

But, like most adolescent children, he was easily bored. The only thing that temporarily quenched his boredom was retreating with friends to the desert to build forts, ride dirt bikes, and set off fi reworks. “You gotta fi nd your own things to do and sometimes, that involves getting in trouble and running around like a bunch of wild kids,” he explains. “Well, more mischief than trouble. I never got into any serious trouble, but maybe if I got caught doing the things I was doing…”

When Condit was nine years old, he found something to occupy his time. “I told my dad I wanted to go to the Tae Kwon Do school down the street and he told me, ‘No, you’re not going there,’” he recalls. “But he took me down to the junior wrestling program and I started wrestling.”

After wrestling in his freshmen year of high school, the young Natural Born Killer needed a stronger outlet for his energy. That’s when he started attending a Jackson’s Submissions affi liate training facility (which would later be renamed FIT NHB) on the west side of Albuquerque. Under the tutelage of Tom and Arlene Vaughn, he learned boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, and Muay Thai.

In 2002, Condit made his MMA debut against Nick Roscoria. Despite having a few butterfl ies, he turned into a maniac and submitted his opponent with a rear naked choke in the fi rst round. Then, he went on a tear (save the submission loss to Carlo Prater in 2004).

But the welterweight bulldozer didn’t really take his career seriously until 2005. “I had quite a few fi ghts before then – just training and fi ghting on local circuits – but I wasn’t super focused until three years ago,” he admits. “I wasn’t going to school, and this was the only thing I was doing. I fi gured if this is the only thing I’m putting my energy into, I better be good at it. I better be successful at it and I better try my damndest to be successful at it.”

That’s when everything changed. In the beginning of a breakout 2006, he defeated seasoned veterans Renato Verissmo and Frank Trigg before dropping a close decision to Jake Shields. Then, he went to Pancrase and decimated the competition. That led to a two-fi ght deal with the World Fighting Alliance, but before he could debut, Zuffa bought (and disbanded) the fi ght promotion. Though Condit was given the choice to fi ght in either the UFC or the WEC, he realized the latter provided the best opportunities.

The decision certainly pleased Scott Adams, the company’s offi cial matchmaker, who was looking to sign the Albuquerque native for quite some time. “Not a lot of fi ghters have that killer instinct. They try to win a decision and be conservative,” Adams explains. “But when Carlos fi ghts, you can feel that persona and that killer instinct he has in the cage. He is not there to win a decision. He wants to go out there and fi nish fi ghts, and I think that makes him an exciting fi ghter because he can submit you and knock you out in any situation.”

Condit has lived up to those words. He choked out Kyle Jensen in his WEC debut, and in his next bout, he submitted a game John Alessio in the second round to capture the Welterweight belt. That win has been the pinnacle of his young career. “It was amazing,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for a long time and in the fi ght game, there are a lot of ups and downs. When I beat John, it made all those hard times and struggle worth it.”

Since earning the belt, Condit has been ranked as a top ten welterweight in a list dominated mostly by UFC fi ghters. While Condit stands alone as the WEC’s kingpin, he is open to cross-promotional matches. “I wanna fi ght the best in the world, but I’m not sure how the relationship between the WEC and the UFC is going to work out. I’m not sure if they’ve exactly fi gured it all out,” Condit admits. “But my job is to fi ght my ass off and I’ll smash anybody they put in front of me.”

For the moment, that would be Carlo Prater.

At the offi ces of FIT NHB, Condit is still cooling down after an intense training session with some of his coaches. He has been preparing diligently for his match against Carlo Prater, and the champ is the most focused he has ever been. In fact, it’s like he’s hypnotized. “I eat, breathe, and sleep MMA,” he admits. “I wake up in the morning and, ya know, I think about smashing Carlo Prater.”

On February 13, he did just that. Condit submitted his foe with a guillotine choke minutes into the fi rst round and improved his record to 22-4. The sold-out crowd at the Santa Ana Star Center went bananas, and even Brian Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, clapped vigorously for the hometown hero.

But as soon as the cage doors opened, it was Richardson’s deputy chief of staff and the champion’s father, Brian Condit, who jumped towards his son and gave him a hug. “My Dad was supportive from day one,” he explains. “When I was a teenager and didn’t have a car, he’d take me to practice every day. And he kinda raised me as a fi ghter since I was real young. He showed me how to box, he showed me how to wrestle, he was real supportive…and he still is. He’s my biggest fan.”

Aside the support of his family, the 170-pound wrecking ball has the backing of nearly every fan of the sport and with good reason. “People identify with a guy like Carlos Condit. You look at this guy in the street and you don’t think this guy could be a world champion as a fi ghter. But when he comes in with his hair shaved off, he has this unblinking stare where he gazes at his opponents, and that killer instinct in the way he fi ghts. People really identify with him.” Adams offers. “I think they really like watching this guy fi ght. We got a win-win situation with Carlos holding our belt. As he says, he is representing the WEC.”

]]>https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/natural-born-killers-261/feed/0The Ultimate Fighter 7https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/the-ultimate-fighter-7-265/
https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/the-ultimate-fighter-7-265/#commentsMon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000Adam Slutskyhttp://www.fightmagazine.comCalling The Ultimate Fighter training center a television show set is an injustice, even though that’s precisely what it is. But look past the lighting equipment, television cameras, boom mics and frenzied production crew. All of that is merely smoke and mirrors; this is a bona fi de gladiator academy An explosion of MMA memorabilia [...]

]]>Calling The Ultimate Fighter training center a television show set is an injustice, even though that’s precisely what it is. But look past the lighting equipment, television cameras, boom mics and frenzied production crew. All of that is merely smoke and mirrors; this is a bona fi de gladiator academy

An explosion of MMA memorabilia covers the walls. Enormous tapestry-style images of Tito Ortiz, Rich Franklin, BJ Penn, Quinton Jackson, and Forrest Griffi n dominate the scene. Framed photos of previous seasons’ teams pay tribute to all whom have left their sweat, blood, and tears behind. Signed jerseys worn by the coaches hint at the knowledge that’s been shared. More photos, of some of the UFC’s biggest stars, suggest what is possible. And one of Royce’s original fi ghtworn gis is proof that mortal men can indeed become gods. Yet despite the serious and oftentimes harsh nature of what takes place within these walls, the decorative colors – an amalgamation of yellows and blues – are bright, almost festive.

A majority of the fl oor space is dedicated to training, enabling new champions to fulfi ll their destinies. Thick fl oor matting and padded walls encompass a variety of weightlifting apparatuses, cardiovascular machines, dumbbells, heavy bags, speed bags, and medicine balls. Tucked in the corner is the gladiatorial arena itself – the Octagon. Clean and unmarred, it is ready and waiting, boldly emblazoned with new sponsor logos and this season’s combatants: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest. And high on the wall above the cage, looking down upon all who enter, are photos of Georges St. Pierre, Quinton Jackson, Forrest Griffi n, and Rashad Evans – a fi nal declaration to this year’s crop of MMA hopefuls that dedication, sacrifi ce, courage, skill, and heart can result in their wildest dreams coming true.

As the fi ghters start to come in, there’s a palpable energy, building with each new arrival. Soon, a total of 32 unknown middleweights are assembled. Many are bristling with confi dence, while some are concealing their fears. All are sizing up the competition, unsure of what’s about to take place. You see, in prior seasons, getting a bed in the TUF house came down to impressing the producers with a resume and a live audition. But all that’s changed. However, before we go forward, we need to go back…

The year is 2001. The popularity of mixed martial arts in America is growing at a whirlwind pace, yet the mother of all MMA spectacles – the Ultimate Fighting Championship – is on the verge of tapping out. At the time, the UFC was owned by pay-per-view programming pioneer Robert Meyrowitz’s Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG). But despite buying out his former partners, Southern California ad exec/entrepreneur Art Davie and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Rorion Gracie, Meyrowitz and SEG were fl irting with bankruptcy. Although there was no shortage of would-be viewers, getting the no-holds-barred events to fans proved nearly impossible. 36 states had banned it, and major pay-per-view distributors refused to carry the bouts, thus relegating the UFC to vastly smaller markets such as Mississippi, Alabama, and Wyoming.

One of the main reasons the high-octane sport had trouble fi nding suitable venues was current GOP presidential nominee John McCain, an Arizona senator. By far the most outspoken of all the UFC’s critics, McCain made it his personal mission to have the sport completely banned from American soil. Over the years, the “bought by boxing” politician made numerous disparaging remarks about the UFC and its kick-ass content, calling it a “barbaric blood sport,” dubbing it “human cockfi ghting,” and declaring that it “appealed to the lowest common denominator.” His rampant letter-writing campaign and numerous televised interviews besmirching the UFC almost succeeded in choking it out for good.

Almost.

Enter boxing promoter Dana White and his close friends, Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, owners of the hugely successful Station Casinos properties. Under the banner Zuffa, LLC – zuffa is Italian for “brawl” or “fi ght without rules” – they swooped in and saved the UFC from extinction for a bargain basement $2 million. Numerous improvements were made immediately. Among the implemented changes: weight classes, a ten-point must system, and new rules that outlawed head-butting, hair-pulling, small digit attacks, and groin strikes, among others. Add in Lorenzo Fertitta’s connection to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (he was a former board member), and the events were sanctioned in Las Vegas.

But despite cleaning up the sport, gaining acceptance from major pay-per-view carriers, and introducing MMA to larger markets, by 2004, Zuffa was hemorrhaging cash to the tune of $34 million! However, White and the Fertittas refused to throw in the towel. While there are numerous explanations behind Zuffa’s reluctance to cut their losses and move on, UFC color commentator, martial arts practitioner, and ardent MMA fan Joe Rogan says it best: “With great risk comes great reward, and the Fertittas have huge balls.”

So they decided to roll the dice – a fi tting descriptor for men made a fortune in the casino gaming industry. Using knowledge gleaned from the reality television series American Casino, which featured the daily events at their upscale Green Valley Ranch casino resort in Henderson, Nevada, the Fertittas conceptualized The Ultimate Fighter. Essentially it was Big Brother meets Survivor for mixed martial artists. Unfortunately, every network passed on the pitch. So the Fertittas offered to pay the entire $10 million production cost out of their own pockets. SpikeTV swallowed the bait, and the reality show was born.

The show portrayed fi ghters in an honest light, dispelling the myth that MMA practitioners were merely muscle-bound, heavily tattooed goons constantly looking for a brawl. Endless hardcore training, constant sacrifi ce, and the mounting pressure felt by sixteen professional fi ghters coexisting under the same roof for twelve straight weeks with hardly any outside contact – such was the drama of The Ultimate Fighter.

Debuting on January 18, 2005, the show was an instant hit, averaging an impressive 1.6 overall rating throughout the twelve episode series, roughly translating to approximately 4.13 million viewers per episode. But it was the show’s grand fi nale on April 9th – featuring an undercard with a litany of great fi ghts, capped by the nowlegendary fi rst bout between Forrest Griffi n and Stephan Bonnar for the TUF light heavyweight championship and the allimportant guaranteed six-fi gure UFC contract – that would cement the show’s place on American airwaves.

According to Joe Rogan, “People were calling their friends, telling them to hurry up and turn on channel [whatever]; it’s sick, these two guys are going to war!” Considered by many to be one of the greatest fi ghts in UFC history, it is rumored that a long-term deal to keep The Ultimate Fighter on SpikeTV for years to come was struck in a limousine immediately following the bout.

As each season came and went, new storylines unfolded, new stars were created, and new fans tuned in. But resting on your laurels in the realm of television – especially reality television – will bite you on the ass. SpikeTV’s brain trust was fully cognizant of this and acted accordingly.

“We’re six seasons in. Every time we do a season, we’re always happy with what we’ve done,” says SpikeTV Senior VP Brian Diamond. “But we’re always trying to challenge ourselves, trying to fi gure out what the next step is. So this year, the idea was make the guys fi ght their way into the house.”

Understand, this is a show about fi ghters and fi ghting, not drama queens and drama. For season seven, they were making absolutely certain every prospective cast member knew that. “In seasons past, there have been complaints about people only being in the house because they are funny or weird or whatever,” says Spike TV publicist Salil Gulati. “This season, no one can complain. Everyone had a shot to make it. No free passes.”

And that’s what it all boils down to: 32 fi ghters, 16 fi ghts, and 16 winners, each with a chance to compete for this season’s title of The Ultimate Fighter. Like the trademarked quote inside the training center proclaims, this is “As real as it gets.”

]]>https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/the-ultimate-fighter-7-265/feed/0Everyday Warriorshttps://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/everyday-warriors-273/
https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/everyday-warriors-273/#commentsMon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000Eric Bonholtzerhttp://www.fightmagazine.comSacrifi ce is a word that goes hand-in-hand with being a champion, and nowhere is that maxim truer than in the world of mixed martial arts. When fans see an MMA match, they know the fi ghters have shed blood, sweat, and tears to prepare for combat, but what many don’t realize is that few [...]

]]>Sacrifi ce is a word that goes hand-in-hand with being a champion, and nowhere is that maxim truer than in the world of mixed martial arts. When fans see an MMA match, they know the fi ghters have shed blood, sweat, and tears to prepare for combat, but what many don’t realize is that few fi ghters have the luxury of working out and training exclusively. Most mixed martial artists, even successful ones, have to hold down nine-to-fi ve jobs to support themselves and their families, while struggling to fi nd time to train for the next match. Three examples are World Extreme Cagefi ghting (WEC) star Charlie Valencia, King of the Cage (KOTC) Lightweight Champion Joe Camacho, and King of the Cage veteran Dave Rivas. While their names are well recognized in the sport, what many people don’t know is that these three mixed martial artists have held down day jobs for years, balancing the demands of fi ghting at a professional level while supporting and providing for their loved ones.

Charlie Valencia is probably best known for his impressive performance on the TapouT television show where he scored a KO, and a recent win at WEC 31, where he punched, kicked, and suplexed his way to victory. However, although fans are awed by his displays in the ring, it’s Valencia’s dedication to supporting his family that deserves the most commendation. “I drive for Anheuser-Busch,” Valencia explains. “I get in at seven and get done around fi ve.”

It’s not the life that most fans picture for an MMA star. The average day for Valencia consists of a routine that encompasses work, family responsibilities, and training. “I wake up early,” he explains, “I have an 11-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son, so I get them up for school. I get my son dressed, and then my wife takes over.” Knowing the constraints of his day, Valencia makes every effort to share as much quality time with his family as he can. After work, there’s fi nally time to train at Classic Kickboxing in Pasadena, California, but it’s not always easy to fi nd the motivation, especially after a grueling day. “It’s tough because I drive all day and then I have to drive to practice,” Valencia relates. “I start training at seven-thirty, and try to get done by ten.” The short training period isn’t by choice, but due to the fact that Valencia must integrate all aspects of his life, a job made particularly diffi cult in knowing that he has to do it all again the next day.“ I try to wind down but it’s hard,” he says. His strong mental outlook keeps him going. “You have to battle through it,” Valencia attests, “because without great sacrifi ce there are no great rewards.”

The people that best know of Valencia’s sacrifi ces are his family, and the MMA fi ghter is grateful for a strong support system that helps him overcome the hurdles of balancing fi ghting and a day job. “My wife understands the sacrifi ces,” Valencia explains. When he has to travel for a fi ght, other members of his household chip in. “My father and mother come to the house to make sure everything is okay, and other family members too. They all come and do their part which makes it easier for me,” he adds gratefully. Even with the support, Valencia acknowledges that it might be the point in his career when he needs to solely focus on training. “It’s tough because I’ve always had a job since I was sixteen,” he explains, noting how diffi cult it is for fi ghters to gain the kind of sponsorship necessary to be able to dedicate themselves to training. “People don’t understand how signifi cant sponsorship is,” Valencia explains, thankful for the help of his own sponsors. “Fighters don’t get paid that much, so it makes a big difference if you win,” the MMA pro says. “And I want to win to provide for my family.” Another fi ghter who is no stranger to the diffi culties of juggling work and training is Joe Camacho. The MMA star scored a decisive TKO victory over Thomas “The Wildman” Denny to capture the 160-pound KOTC Lightweight belt on January 23, but what’s even more amazing is that for years Camacho has been working as an art director of graphic design, coaching other fi ghters, and still fi nding time to train. “I get up every day for work at seven, and all day I’m on the computer,” Camacho explains. “It’s funny because people think it’s easy, but the computer drains you. It’s the kind of work that wears you down so by the end of the day all you want to do is rest.”

But for Camacho, it’s not time to rest, it’s time to train. That task is made even more diffi cult by the fact that the MMA fi ghter also teaches classes at California Kickboxing. “ I have to balance training, teaching, and private classes,” Camacho explains. This in addition to his regular job. The grueling routine makes it diffi cult to balance another aspect of a fi ghter’s career; nutrition. “I have to eat late at night since I train from fi ve-thirty to ten, so all that’s open is fast food.”

In light of the championship win, Camacho has decided to make the transition to training exclusively. “It’s been really tough to balance it all out,” Camacho says. In a sport where reactions are everything, it is very diffi cult to not have the kind of training opportunities that your opponents have. “A lot of the fi ghters that I’ve fought train exclusively,” Camacho explains. “They’re always on the mat.” Camacho, who has faced Joe Stevenson and Rob Emerson, explains the diffi cultly of not being able to solely train. “ They focus on what they have to do. I have to focus on work and meeting deadlines, then I have to get back into fi ght mode.”

Still, Camacho has handled the task well, having maintained the balance for over a decade, even as he separated his day job from his MMA career. “ I never really advertise what I do,” the fi ghter explains, “so it’s kind of been like Fight Club, showing up to work with a black eye, that kind of thing.” But now, with the championship belt around his waist, Camacho is ready to make the transition to training exclusively to defend his crown as King of the Cage.

Another King of the Cage veteran who handles the daunting task of balancing a strenuous job, family responsibilities, and training for MMA is rising star Dave Rivas. Coming off a unanimous decision win in early January, Rivas is no stranger to the pressure of preparing for fi ghts while juggling professional obligations. Rivas, who works for Countrywide in the loan business, knows the kind of mental strength it takes to be a champion. “I put in nine to ten hours, then right after that it’s training,” Rivas says. “It’s very hard. Your body is tired and you’re mentally tired, too.” Even though his work day starts at eight on an average day, Rivas is up well before that.“ I get up at fi ve and run for thirty minutes to an hour,” Rivas explains. “I have a son and drive him to a different district for school. Then I drive back and get to work doing loans.” Rivas breaks up the daily monotony with some quick exercise midday. “ At lunch I try to get an hour workout,” Rivas says. “Then it’s back to work, and after that I pick up my son and get to training.” The MMA fi ghter has a long day, with his training lasting several hours. “ I get back at around ten to eleven and try to go to bed around eleven-thirty.” Like other fi ghters who balance full time jobs and their training, Rivas recognizes the diffi culty and sacrifi ce it takes. “ I’m still almost a newlywed, and it’s very stressful for the family when you’re away for so long,” Rivas explains, grateful for the support his family gives him.

After a while though, the balancing act becomes increasingly diffi cult. “Sometimes you start questioning if you want to do this,” Rivas describes. “It puts a block in your mind and when you question your drive, you don’t want it as much.” Rivas’ determination keeps him going, and for him, it’s not about the money, it’s about the love of MMA. “ When I started fi ghting I got $250 a match, but I loved doing it. That’s the thing with fi ghting, is we go back in for the challenge.”

The juggling act of maintaining a day job, making time for family, and training can take it’s toll, but Rivas sums it up well: “When you go out there and you get your hand raised, it’s all worth it.”

]]>https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/everyday-warriors-273/feed/0Rules of Encagementhttps://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/rules-of-encagement-257/
https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/rules-of-encagement-257/#commentsMon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000adminhttp://www.fightmagazine.comPast Examples of Rule Exploits and Violations BUTTING THE HEAD July 12, 1996 – Mark Coleman used head butts in bunches en route to winning the UFC 10 eight-man tournament. It was Coleman’s fi rst tournament and the head butt was an important part of the now famous Ground and Pound style of “The Hammer”. [...]

July 12, 1996 – Mark Coleman used head butts in bunches en route to winning the UFC 10 eight-man tournament. It was Coleman’s fi rst tournament and the head butt was an important part of the now famous Ground and Pound style of “The Hammer”.

May 26, 2000 –Andrei Semenov used head butts to subdue Phil Ensminger at the WVC 11 in the semifi nals of the eight-man tournament. Semenov would lose in the fi – nal to fellow Red Devil fi ghter Amar Suloev.

August 27, 2000 – Wanderlei Silva head butted Guy Mezger at Pride 10. Silva had Mezger in trouble in the corner and even though the head butt didn’t end the bout, it sure added to the damage Mezger absorbed.

EYE GOUGING OF ANY KIND

July 27, 1997 – Mark Kerr stopped Dan Bobish with a chin to eye in the fi nal of the UFC 14 four–man tournament. Kerr won the event and went on to win the UFC 15 fourman tournament three months later.

BITING OR SPITTING

May 23, 1998 – Gilbert Yvel took a bite out of the left pectoral muscle of Kareem Barklaev at the 1998 AFC European Championship. Yvel lost the bout via disqualifi cation and the referee received a thrashing from Russian coach and RINGS veteran Volk Han.

HAIR PULLING

First enforced at UFC 15. September 9, 1994 – Royce Gracie used Kimo Leopoldo’s ponytail as a handle to keep the Hawaiian striker’s head down at UFC 3. Gracie would eventually submit Kimo but he took a lot of abuse and dropped out of the tournament (though his exit from the tourney was offi cially attributed to heat stroke).

GROIN ATTACKS OF ANY KIND

This strike was illegal in the fi rst UFC but made legal in UFC 2. Then it was permanently enforced at UFC 15.

December 16, 1994 – Keith Hackney pounded Joe Son in the groin in the quarterfi nals of UFC 4. Hackney would face Royce Gracie in the semifi nals and lose by armbar.

November 9, 1996 – Yoshiki Takahashi not only attacked Wallid Ismail’s groin at UFC 12, he ripped the Brazilian’s athletic supporter out of his shorts before striking him. It was one of 7 single bouts on the card with Vitor Belfort taking the night’s 4-man tourney.

STRIKES TO THE SPINE OR BACK OF THE HEAD

First enforced at UFC 15. February 26, 2000 – Gilbert Yvel repeatedly elbowed Dan Henderson in the back of the head during their quarterfi nal bout at the RINGS King of Kings ’99 fi nal event. Henderson would beat Yvel by decision and take decision wins over Renato Sobral and Rodrigo Nogueira all in the same night to capture the RINGS King of Kings championship.

HEEL KICKS TO THE KIDNEY

This technique falls under “kicking a downed opponent” even though the strike is thrown when both fi ghts are on the mat. First enforced at UFC 15. April 25, 1980 – Rickson Gracie used heels to the kidneys extensively in his fi ght with Casimiro “Rei Zulu” Nascimento in their Canal 100 Vale Tudo fi ght in Brazil. Rickson and the rest of the Gracies used the kick to the kidneys as a standard in their ground game. The technique was eventually banned due to the fact repeated kicks cause nephrotic tissue in the kidney to retain water, swell and cause bleeding and other damage.

12. THROAT STRIKES

This technique was legal and used in the early UFC events. December 16, 2004 – Keith Hackney used a throat choke to submit Joe Son in the quarterfi nals of the UFC 4 eight-man tournament. Son would tap from the choke and Hackney would advance to face Royce Gracie, losing via submission.

STOMPING OF A GROUNDED FIGHTER

First enforced at UFC 28. November 12, 1993 – Gerard Gordeau stomped out Kevin Rosier in less than a minute to advance to the semifi nals of UFC 1. The Dutchman would be submitted by Royce Gracie in the tournament fi nal. June 6, 2003 – Wes Sims stomped the head Frank Mir in their bout at UFC 43. Mir was awarded the win and got his revenge over Sims, stopping him with strikes 7 months later at UFC 46.

THE USE OF ABUSIVE LANGUAGE IN FIGHTING AREA

This practice has never been considered proper but the Mixed Martial Arts Unifi ed Rules of Combat introduced by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board offi – cially made the violation illegal.

THROWING AN OPPONENT OUT OF THE FIGHTING AREA

This practice has never been considered proper but the MMA Unifi ed Rules of Combat introduced by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board offi – cially made the violation illegal. February 26, 2000 – Renato Sobral threw Mikhail Illoukhine over the ropes during their quarterfi nal bout at the RINGS King of Kings ’99 fi nal event. Illoukhine looked shaken and Sobral acted as if nothing happened. “Babalu” went on to beat Illoukhine by submission, beat Kiyoshi Tamura by decision and lose to Dan Henderson in the tournament’s fi nal bout.

FLAGRANT DISREGARD OF THE REFEREE’S INSTRUCTIONS

This practice has never been considered proper but the MMA Unifi ed Rules of Combat introduced by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board offi – cially made the violation illegal. November 13, 2004 – Gilbert Yvel KOed referee Petteri Maunu during his bout with Atte Backman at Fight Festival 12. Yvel punched the ref for repeatedly restarting the fi ghters. You may notice Gilbert’s name appears a number of times on this list.

SPIKING AN OPPONENT TO THE CANVAS ON HIS OR HER HEAD OR NECK

This technique has never been considered legal but the MMA Unifi ed Rules of Combat introduced by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board offi – cially made the violation illegal. August 28, 2002 – Bob Sapp slammed Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira early in their bout at Pride Shockwave show. For moments everyone thought they might’ve witnessed the end of “Minotauro” but the Brazilian fi ghter recovered and eventually submitted “The Beast” with an armbar in the second round.

]]>https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/rules-of-encagement-257/feed/0Breaking It Downhttps://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/breaking-it-down-263/
https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/breaking-it-down-263/#commentsSun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000Eric Fosterhttp://www.fightmagazine.comOne of the benefi ts of FIGHT! going monthly is that this great magazine is now delivered frequently enough that I have the occasional opportunity to examine upcoming fi ghts and betting lines. This month, I’d like to take some time away from my usual “how to” columns and do exactly that. The headliner at [...]

]]>One of the benefi ts of FIGHT! going monthly is that this great magazine is now delivered frequently enough that I have the occasional opportunity to examine upcoming fi ghts and betting lines. This month, I’d like to take some time away from my usual “how to” columns and do exactly that.

The headliner at UFC 84 will be one of the greatest lightweight matches in UFC history: new champion BJ Penn will be defending his title against the recently dethroned Sean Sherk.

BJ PENN

BJ Penn is 29 years old, and holds a 12-4-1 MMA record, 8-3-1 in the UFC. He is considered one of the most talented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the world, earning his black belt under world-renowned master Andre Pederneiras. Penn’s phenomenal skills in BJJ earned him the nickname he bears today, “The Prodigy.” Penn is easily the most decorated American Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and was fi rst non-Brazilian to win the black belt division of the Mundials (BJJ World Championships).

If there were ever an MMA fi ghter who deserved asterisks next to his record, it’s Penn. Penn’s fi rst UFC loss was a controversial majority decision loss to Jens Pulver at UFC 35. Many people felt Pulver did not do enough to win that decision. Personally, I had the fi ght scored as a draw.

Penn’s second defeat was a unanimous decision loss to Lyoto Machida in K-1 Hero’s. Penn, who competes mostly at lightweight (155 pounds) and welterweight (170 pounds), was facing a light heavyweight (205 pounds), and fared very well in the match. Under the traditional Japanese judging criteria, in which a fi ght’s results are balanced for a weight difference between the fi ghters, the much lighter Penn could easily have been awarded the decision over Machida.

Penn’s third loss came against Georges St. Pierre at UFC 58 in March 2006. Penn dominated St. Pierre in the fi rst round. However, he gassed and the fi ghters spent the next two rounds mostly hanging on to each other. I scored the fi ght as 29-28 Penn, as did one of the judges ringside. The other two judges saw it differently, and St. Pierre was awarded a split decision. Regardless of who won the match on the cards, Penn defi nitely won the fi ght. BJ put it best, reportedly saying, “I went to a club after the fi ght and he went to the hospital.”

In Penn’s most recent loss, he dominated theninvincible Matt Hughes for two solid rounds before separating a rib in the closing seconds of the second round. This is the only time in Penn’s career he had been stopped in a fi ght. Penn looked to be in great shape, but unfortunately, due to the injury, we’ll never know if he would have gassed in the third round or could have emerged victorious over the thenchampion.

In his last fi ght, against Joe “Daddy” Stevenson at UFC 80, the brilliance of Penn’s early career returned full-force. Penn dominated the fi ght from start to fi nish, rocking Stevenson early, cutting him badly, and ultimately fi nishing his opponent with a rear naked choke late in the second round. With this victory, Penn took possession of the UFC Lightweight Championship (vacated by Sherk’s suspension for testing positive for steroids at UFC 73). Penn became the second fi ghter in UFC history (Randy Couture was the fi rst) to win titles in two different weight classes.

Many people – myself included – believe Penn has the skills and talent to be one of the best fi ghters of all time. However, he has disappointed several times in his career. But Penn has appeared in solid shape in his last two fi ghts, and claims to have found a “newborn fi re inside.” He has stated, “I’m gonna do everything in my power to get everything that I’ve always wanted to achieve.”

SEAN SHERK

Sean Sherk is 34 years old and holds a 31-2-1 MMA record, 6-2 in the UFC. His impressive record is highlighted by two wins over a very young Karo Parisyan (in 2000 and 2001), and unanimous decision wins in his last three UFC fi ghts, against Nick Diaz, Kenny Florian, and Hermes Franca. Sherk’s two losses are both to elite fi ghters: a TKO loss to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 56, and a close unanimous decision loss to Matt Hughes at UFC 42.

Sherk has fought in numerous organizations besides the UFC, including Pancrase, Extreme Combat, Reality Submission Fighting, and PRIDE. Sherk has won fi fteen of his past sixteen fi ghts, starting the streak after the loss to Hughes in 2003.

Sherk is an explosive wrestler with tremendous takedowns. However, he lacks the ground and pound to back up those abilities. In his last fi ght, Sherk had numerous opportunities where Franca was “turtled” – exposing his back and just trying to cover his head. Sherk was unable to capitalize on this dominant position, and just slid around his downed opponent in wrestling positions, peppering him with occasional and ineffective strikes.

BREAKING DOWN THE FIGHT

Standing, Penn possesses a signifi cant advantage. His stand up skills are excellent, highlighted with accurate yet damaging punches and stellar head movement. Sherk’s standup has proven mediocre at best.

In submissions, the advantage is all BJ Penn. While Sherk does have a number of submission wins on his record, they’re almost exclusively wrestling-driven: key locks, neck cranks, and the occasional rear naked choke. His submissions might work well against an unskilled opponent, but they’re rarely successful against a midlevel practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, let alone someone at BJ Penn’s level. On the other hand, Penn has choked out elite fi ghters including Takanori Gomi and Matt Hughes.

Sherk has the edge in this fi ght in wrestling ability and raw strength. However, BJ Penn possesses phenomenal takedown defense. Will it be enough to keep the fi ght standing? Not likely, not for long. However, it should keep the fi ght standing long enough for Penn to punish Sherk on each takedown attempt, which will surely take its toll over the course of the fi ve-round fi ght.

In cardio, Sherk has a serious advantage. Even if Penn’s notoriously suspect cardio has been improved signifi cantly, he’s still at a disadvantage to the supremely athletic “Muscle Shark.” Penn is at a further disadvantage as a championship fi ght goes for fi ve rounds, not three.

I expect Sherk will try to win this fi ght with cardio. He hasn’t demonstrated the offensive ability to fi nish a fi ghter of Penn’s caliber, so outside of Penn gassing horribly in the late rounds, suffering another injury, or an early stoppage due to a cut, Sherk’s game plan is likely to weather the early storm of strikes and submission attempts from Penn, regularly take this fi ght to the ground, and try to ride out a decision victory. Sherk couldn’t fi nish Hermes Franca or Kenny Florian in fi ve rounds, and Penn presents a much greater threat than either previous opponent.

Penn is much harder to predict, for the same reason he’s more dangerous: he’s well-rounded. He has the tools and technique to punish Sherk standing, and the fl exibility and takedown defense to keep himself in a position to unleash that offense. While I don’t expect Penn to keep the fi ght standing forever, I do expect we’ll see something much different from Sherk’s last fi ght, where he was able to put Franca on the canvas at will. Penn also is one of the most skilled and dangerous BJJ practitioners. If anyone in the world can submit Sean Sherk, it’s going to be Penn.

Ultimately, I predict that Sherk’s lack of offensive fi repower is going to be his downfall. Assuming we see Penn return to the Octagon in shape and motivated, I think he’s much too dangerous for Sherk to contend with. We’ll see Sherk handed his fi rst loss at 155 pounds, and Penn successful in his fi rst title defense.

The betting line for this fi ght of Penn -210, Sherk +170 gives BJ approximately a two-thirds chance of winning this fi ght. I put the fi ght at 70/30 Penn myself. I think Sherk is severely handicapped by his lack of offensive weapons, and Penn should be able to fi nish Sherk about seven times out of ten, while Sherk could drag this to decision the rest of the time.